Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck as it’s more commonly called, is an elective surgery, so it’s only natural for you to wonder if you really want, need or are a good candidate for it. You may also wonder if you are prepared for the costs, risks, and after-care. Will it really make a difference?
Here are the top five reasons you should consider the procedure:
1. Improves Your Abdominal Appearance
Tummy tuck operations can improve the appearance of your abdomen by removing loose excess skin and fat, tightening muscles in the abdominal wall and, in many cases, even smoothing stretch marks.
If you’ve looked at your abdominal area and wished it were flatter (or flat again after milestones like pregnancy or weight loss), tummy tuck may be the answer.
That’s especially true for those who have tried other methods of toning and tightening that have failed to achieve the desired results. For example, exercise tones and tightens, but can’t remove much excess skin left over after the stretching of pregnancy or weight gain.
2. Reduces Back Pain and Core Instability
Another side effect of pregnancy besides excess skin is a condition called diastasis, which is an abdominal bulge caused by a separation in the two large parallel bands of muscles that meet in the middle of the abdomen.
Women over 35 who have high birth-weight babies, multiple pregnancies, or repeated pregnancies over a short time period are most likely to experience diastasis, and there is no exercise cure. In fact, by strengthening muscles around the separation, some abdominal exercises can make the bulge even more pronounced.
3. Improves Confidence and Self-Esteem
It can be frustrating to work hard at something like health and fitness only to find that, despite your efforts, you still can’t fit into the clothing you want to wear, or feel confident on the beach in a bathing suit.
If you’ve lost a lot of weight using diet and exercise - or a combination of those and weight-loss surgery - a tummy tuck can make you feel better about how your body looks.
4. Jump-Starts a Healthy Lifestyle
According to the Wall Street Journal, a study in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by Swiss researchers found that bariatric patients who have surgery to remove excess skin are more likely to keep weight off after procedures, regaining an average of just over one pound a year compared with four pounds annually for bariatric patients who didn't have contouring procedures.
5. Customizable to Your Needs
Abdominoplasty is not a �one size fits all� surgical procedure, but can be customized to the needs of the patient. There are a variety of procedures that fall under the tummy tuck heading, and they vary widely in both cost and scope.
You can work with your doctor to determine which procedure is best for you, based on your specific reasons for having surgery and your individual preferences regarding cost, risks, and after-care requirements.
Conclusion
Like any surgery, tummy tucks carry some risk, and only you can determine whether the benefits outweigh them. The good news is that, for the vast majority of patients, with the proper precautions and after-care, it is a safe and effective procedure with numerous benefits and a very high satisfaction rate.
